The Ministry of Labour has condemned false propaganda circulating on social media, which alleges that the Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Prananthu had moved to ban religious pilgrimages to Dambadiva and Thailand.

The Ministry clarified that the claim is entirely fabricated and stressed that no such statement was ever made by the Minister. 

Issuing a statement, the ministry said the false report appears to be spread by groups with narrow political motives, attempting to undermine Sri Lanka’s social, political, and religious coexistence.

“We express our regret and strong condemnation regarding such low‑level false propaganda,” the Ministry noted in its statement. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Labour has directed the Labour Department to conduct an urgent inquiry into a popular Kottu restaurant chain that has recently drawn public controversy over the assault of an employee. 

According to a ministry statement, Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe has instructed officials to investigate allegations that employees were subjected to verbal and physical harassment by the individual claiming ownership of the chain.

The probe will also examine whether staff benefits and contributions to provident funds have been properly paid in line with labour laws. The chain, which operates 12 branches across the island, is expected to undergo collective inspections by labour officers.

Reports indicate that some outlets were closed in recent months. The Deputy Minister has asked officials to verify whether workers received legally due gratuities and other payments at the time of closure.

Labour officers are also tasked with recording employees’ views on workplace issues and industrial disputes.

The Deputy Minister has ordered that a comprehensive report covering all these matters be submitted to him by July 7. (Newswire)

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The Accessibility Audit Report of the Ministry of Labour was officially handed over on Monday (04) to the Secretary of the Ministry, S. M. Piyatissa, by the Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, MP Sugath Wasantha De Silva.

The report was developed under the leadership of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, based on an accessibility audit conducted within the “Mehewara Piyesa” building premises of the Department of Labour. This initiative was carried out in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and funded by the Australian Government.

The technical component of the audit was led by Tikiri Kumara Jayawardena, a member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NSPD). The report, which includes proposals and recommendations, was produced following an evaluation conducted by a diverse group of 28 participants, including accessibility audit experts, PAVE Sri Lanka youth volunteers, members of the Disability Inclusive Elections in Sri Lanka (DIESL) Working Group, and staff from the Department of Labour. The team assessed two main buildings, the main auditorium, and the Ministry’s canteen.

“I am pleased to see that the Ministry of Labour is taking progressive steps following the Caucus interventions through the ‘Improving Disability-Inclusive Service Delivery’ session held on November 20, 2025. One of our key recommendations was to assess whether physical access in both the new and adjacent buildings was properly designed. We are encouraged that the Ministry and Department acted on this recommendation. Our team, including persons with disabilities, conducted the audit and prepared this report with recommendations in a short period, facilitated by IFES. The next step is implementation. Some improvements can be achieved within this year’s budget, while additional funds may be allocated in the next budget cycle. Furthermore, LKR 1,000 million has been allocated for public accessibility, and additional support may be sought through the Ministry of Social Empowerment and Social Security if needed,” MP Sugath Wasantha De Silva emphasized during the report handover.

The Secretary of the Ministry noted: “This technical report marks an important step toward creating a more inclusive environment. Many older buildings were constructed at a time when social awareness was limited. Today, we must take accessibility seriously within the state sector.” He further added that available departmental funds will be utilized to implement feasible recommendations.

Tikiri Kumara Jayawardena highlighted: “Accessibility means the ability to approach, enter, circulate within a premises, and use services without barriers. Our audit focused on the needs of persons with mobility impairments, including wheelchair users, as well as those with hearing impairments. The team identified 32 issues and proposed 28 recommendations, supported by diagrams and illustrations to guide implementation.”

He further emphasized the importance of prioritization and human sensitivity: “The recommendations have been categorized into immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions. If implemented within two to three years, this initiative could serve as a model for other state institutions. While the 2006 Gazette was used as a baseline, we also incorporated modern ‘Universal Design’ principles that are widely practiced globally but not yet formally adopted locally.”

Additional recommendations discussed during the session included strengthening awareness among construction consultants and contractors on accessibility standards; providing continuous training for staff on supporting persons with disabilities, including sign language training; and ensuring the application of “reasonable accommodation” principles within labour laws, along with proper guidance for employees at all levels. (Newswire)

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Acting Minister of Labour, Mahinda Jayasinghe, says they expect to engage in a discussion with various stakeholders today over the closure of the NEXT garment factory in Katunayake’s Free Trade Zone, which has left over 1,400 workers unemployed.

Addressing the Parliament yesterday, Mahinda Jayasinghe said it is expected to engage in a discussion with the factory’s administration, trade unions, and representatives of the Board of Investment (BOI) on the matter.

“2825 employees are working in four units of the company. They have made a decision under which 1416 employees will lose their jobs. However, 1409 employees will retain their jobs,” the acting minister said. 

Mahinda Jayasinghe further said that the Labour Department must be informed prior to a factory closing down and that the NEXT garment factory had not informed the department of their decision until Tuesday (20 May). 

“Since being informed, the Labour Ministry and Labour Department promptly started looking into the matter. We intend to meet with the company’s administration, trade unions, and the BOI for further discussions on the matter,” he added. 

It was reported yesterday that the NEXT garment factory in Katunayake’s Free Trade Zone has announced its decision to close its factory, resulting in over 1,400 workers becoming unemployed.

Employees said they were informed of the sudden closure via a WhatsApp message on Monday night that the factory would cease operations, with immediate effect.

Issuing a statement, the factory, which had operated for nearly 40 years, cited rising operational costs and continued financial losses as reasons for the decision, while also offering a severance package, including two months’ salary. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Labour has issued a statement outlining the salary increments that will be made to private sector employees, starting this year, based on the government’s 2025 budget proposal. 

According to the Labour Ministry, it has been proposed to increase the basic salary from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 27,000 and the minimum wage from Rs. 700 to Rs. 1080.

As such, the minimum wage of Rs. 21,000 given now for private sector workers is a combination of Rs. 17,500 given under the provisions of the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Act, Rs. 1000 under the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Worker Act, No. 36 of 2005 and Rs. 2,500 under the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Act, No. 4 of 2016.

A previously given Rs. 3500 as a budgetary relief allowance will now be added to the minimum wage, which will see an increase in the basic salary and the benefits provided in line with the salary scale.

The Labour Ministry further said that the government has proposed an increment of Rs. 27,000 to basic salary this year, while next year it hopes to grant an increment of Rs. 30,000 and also hopes to increase the minimum wage from Rs. 1080 to 1200. 

Stating that the Cabinet’s approval has been received in this regard, the Labour Ministry added that the necessary bill in this regard will be presented to Parliament soon. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Labour has introduced a new hotline to address issues of employees of the public and private sectors. 

Through the new WhatsApp number 070 7227877, the Ministry hopes to promptly address service-related issues faced by private and state employees.

The Ministry also hopes to speed up responses by it and the Labour Department to the issues raised.

The Labour Ministry has made arrangements to receive complaints via the new WhatsApp number. (Newswire)

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Officials of the Ministry of Labour, the Department of Labour, and other relevant government offices have called on the government to allow them to work free of any form of interference.

The demands were made through a protest held in front of the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment yesterday by officials of the said government services. 

The protesters urged the government to provide an environment where they can exercise powers vested through the laws passed by the legislature independently and freely without any interference.

During the protest, they also demanded that officials who exercise their duties without favour, bias or prejudice should be given necessary protection in case of any threats, in accordance with laws passed by the legislature.

The protest was organised following threats against officials who acted independently and impartially when dealing in accordance with the laws passed by the Parliament with regard to the incident where six people had died after falling into a chemical waste tank in a rubber factory in the Horana area in 2018.

The protestors emphasized that in any case where the laws enacted by the Parliament are used to protect the rights of the people, the officers should be protected as mentioned in those laws.

They further stressed that if this is not the case, government officials will be reluctant to implement the decrees, adding that if such a situation arises, there will be a risk of slowing down the implementation of government policies. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Foreign Employment and Labour has issued a statement highlighting the 34 key points in the proposed Employment Act.

The Ministry is actively working on introducing a new unified labour law system in Sri Lanka. 

As per the Ministry, the 34 key points in the proposed Employment Act are as follows:

1. To introduce legal provisions to prevent discrimination in employment or in the workplace.
2. To introduce legal provisions related to the prevention of all forms of harassment and sexual violence in the workplace. (Sri Lanka can ratify the no- C190, violence and harassment convention)  
3. Introduction of new legal provisions on occupational safety, health and welfare of employees (OSH) (Sri Lanka can ratify the no – C155, convention on safety, health and welfare)
4. Removal of existing restrictions on the payment of gratuity. (removed the continued service of 5 years and number of employee’s 15 )
5. To introduce 1 ½ payment method for male workers who work in the factory and business undertaking at night  ( female workers are being paid at present)
6. To remove the disparities between the provisions of the Wages Boards Ordinance and the Shop and Office Employees Act regarding working terms and conditions and to create similar arrangements for all employees.
7. Mandating an employer to provide a letter of appointment in writing to all employees containing terms and conditions of employment at the time of recruitment except for those employed in casual employment.
8. Introducing a 05-day week and flexible working hours according to the needs of the employees.
9. Relaxation of legal provisions in existing law for night work of women employees subject to certain conditions.
10. To introduce a uniform system regarding the amount of overtime working hours and the calculations to be paid.
11. To introduce legal provisions related to part-time employment.
12. Introducing legal provisions relating to trainees, apprentices and those working while studying in educational institutions.
13. Making legal provisions regarding paternity leave.
14. To introduce legal provisions on the rights and duties of employees who work from home.
15. To introduce a procedure to be followed in the employment of a foreign employee in Sri Lanka.
16. Inclusion of Domestic Work under the purview of Labor Law.
17. Introducing a National Remuneration Council instead of the system of minimum wage determination by Wages Board decisions and statutory law and empowering that body to determine minimum wages on contemporary and accepted criteria.
18. Establishing a legal obligation on employers to provide final disciplinary decisions relating to misconduct by employees within a specified period.
19. To introduce provisions that unfair labour practices by trade unions should also be prohibited by law in the same way that unfair labour practices by employers are currently prohibited by law.
20. Create an opportunity for both parties to initiate actions in court in violation of provisions on unfair labour practices.
21. Make it mandatory for the employer to deduct membership fees from remuneration and remit to trade unions.
22. Increasing the minimum number of members required to form a trade union from 07 to a higher number.
23. Mandatory representation of a certain percentage of women on the executive board of a trade union.
24. Provisions for notifying the employer before the date of commencement of the strike and obtaining majority consent of members for the strike.
25. To introduce workplace rules to an employer subject to certain guidelines and to give legal authority for those workplace rules.
26. To make the process faster and simpler for termination of employment with compensation when jobs are made redundant due to poor performance, restructuring or business reorganization.
27. To obtain the permission of the Commissioner General of Labour to layoff for a short period of time due to non-availability of raw materials, non-availability of orders, breakdown of machinery or for reasons beyond the control of the employer. 
28. In the case of voluntary resignation of an employee, inform the employer one month in advance and make provision for resignation.
29. Revision of the retirement age.
30. To introduce standards and norms for the dignity of labour to be followed in engaging in employment or profession.
31. Establishment of a social security system which provides maternity benefits, workers’ health and compensation in case of unemployment through a social security insurance fund.
32. Making legal provisions to ascertain the performance of employment.
33. Making legal provisions regarding the regularization of Man Power Supply institutes and Employment Agenesis.
34. To introduce legal provisions related to  E-Wages system. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment has issued a clarification on the recent claims made by certain trade unions on the reappointment of members to the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC).

The Ministry said in a statement that it has been brought to its attention that certain parties have disseminated misinformation regarding the alleged removal of a women representative from the selection process. 

“We issued a press release on 23/05 2023 regarding the selection process (Annex 01), and we want to clarify the selection process further to ensure transparency and accuracy,” the Ministry stated. 

Sri Lanka is a signatory to ILO convention number 144 on Tripartite Consultation, and the National Labour Advisory Council results from that. The constitution of the NLAC is in line with the ILO governing principles and Convention 144, which recognizes representations by Trade Unions with a more extensive member base. 

The reconstitution of the NLAC is a routine process as per the NLAC constitution, which mandates yearly reconstitution. This process aims to ensure that the voice of the most representative unions can voice their concerns and opinions at the National Tripartite Social Dialogue Forum.

It is important to emphasize that according to the NLAC’s Constitution, no one can select trade unions arbitrarily. Additionally, the NLAC constitution explicitly states and allows the selection of the most representative trade unions. Consequently, trade unions with a more extensive membership got selected for representation. Membership strength is dynamic; therefore, certain trade unions acquire new members, and those who gain new members can join the NLAC.

The Ministry stated that during the reconstitution process, the Ministry conducts a thorough and evidence-based evaluation to determine the eligibility of participating trade unions. Four trade unions that did not meet the established criteria were not selected, while two that fulfilled the criteria were included. This decision was based solely on objectives and criteria, without any subjective opinions. 

The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment stated that it is responsible for selecting the trade union for the NLAC. Once selected, the trade unions can nominate a representative of their choice to the NLAC regardless of gender, age, and designation. The nomination of representatives is entirely at the discretion of the trade unions. In this context, the government of Sri Lanka or the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment has no right to compel trade unions to nominate particular gender to the NLAC. The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment encourages gender balance but does not intervene in trade unions’ internal affairs. 

In the previous NLAC, only one union nominated a women representative; however, no trade union nominated a women representative this year. At the same time, we have continued to encourage trade unions to nominate women representatives to the NLAC, and we remain optimistic that trade unions will give due consideration to women representatives. 

The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment recognizes equal opportunities and does not discriminate based on gender or sexual orientation. Our recent proposal to allow women workers to work at night in the BPO and KPO sectors, along with the inclusion of provisions against gender-based discrimination and violence, demonstrates our firm commitment to promoting gender equality and decent work for all. Therefore, any statement of gender-based discrimination within the NLAC selection process is unfounded and contrary to our core principles. 

The Ministry stated that if no trade union nominates a female representative to the NLAC, it will look into appointing a woman representative from a women’s organization. 

For further information or clarification, the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment R.P.A.Wimalaweera can be contacted via 011 2368 164 or slmol@slt.lk (NewsWire)

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Measures are being taken to obtain assets and liabilities statements from Trade Union leaders who are yet to submit their declarations, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said. 

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said trade union leaders of government and semi-government institutions are required to submit their assets and liabilities statements according to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act.

He pointed out that, however, no union leader has provided such a statement so far to the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour annually as required by the law.

Minister Nanayakkara stated, therefore, the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour is currently making efforts to obtain assets and liabilities statements from such union leaders.

The Minister also stated that although the Ministry of Labour has not acted on the matter in the past, the Ministry Secretary will request such assets and liabilities statements in the future from union leaders from government and semi-government institutions.

“Government employees are bound by the Institutional Code. It mentions the guidelines when appointing officers to trade unions. Some employees who have worked in trade unions for twenty to thirty years have not done their entitled work, even for a single day. The people should decide whether it is correct to appoint people to trade unions in government and semi-government institutions and pay salaries for 20 years for not doing their designated work. Government businesses are maintained by people’s taxes. Is it fair to make collective agreements and allow such union leaders to get two or three salaries and receive millions of overtime payments even when such institutions are making losses? According to the Assets and Liabilities Act, all union leaders are required to provide assets and liabilities statements. But until now, no trade union leader has given statements of their assets and liabilities. Therefore, the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour is making renewed efforts to get their assets and liabilities statements at the earliest” the minister stated. (NewsWire)

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